Stage is set for World's Largest Immunology Congress to arrive in Melbourne

The premier triennial International Congress of Immunology 2016 (ICI 2016) arrives in Melbourne next week for six days of ground-breaking research and discussion on the science of immunology.

Taking place between 21 - 26 August at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), ICI 2016 is the largest global event in the field, with over 3,500 delegates attending from over 60 countries.

Immunology is a discipline that impacts billions of lives worldwide, and is currently in a state of significant advancement and progress in improving lives through the discovery of new vaccines that will revolutionise the treatment of cancer, autoimmunity, allergy and immune deficiencies in children and adults.

As a knowledge, research and innovation leader, Melbourne is the ideal city to host an event of this calibre. Melbourne is home to 25 research organisations including the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute), Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Monash Health, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research and Burnet Institute that have made fundamental discoveries in immunological research.

Karen Bolinger, Chief Executive Officer, Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB), the organisation who facilitated the bid to win the event for Melbourne, said collaboration across the city was a key ingredient in the successful bid.

"Congress President, Professor José Villadangos worked with MCB in his role as a Club Melbourne Ambassador to facilitate astounding collaboration across the city to ensure the event delivered on its promise as the premier event in immunology globally.

"The high concentration of immunology research institutes in Melbourne has ensured that ICI 2016 has world-class leaders in the field.

"A number of significant announcements will be made at the Congress, which will have an impact on lives across the world. It is momentous that Melbourne has provided the platform for the world's leading researchers to share their ground-breaking discoveries," Ms Bolinger said.

ICI 2016 will include plenary sessions, workshops, poster sessions, opening and closing ceremonies and receptions, and will feature 100 invited speakers from Melbourne and around the world who are well-known for their contribution to the sector.

Recognising the importance and interest in the conversations taking place event organisers, Arinex, have opened the event to the general public for a Cancer Immunotherapy Open Public Forum, taking place on Wednesday, 24 August at 6:00pm. In addition, the Doherty Institute will host another public event, Immunology and Aging: Lessons Learnt from HIV, on Tuesday, 23 August at 6:00pm. Registration for both events is open on ici2016.org.

Professor José Villadangos, Congress President and Researcher at the Doherty and Bio 21 Institutes said that he is proud that this landmark event is taking place in his own backyard.

"Melbourne is one of the world's most successful destinations for health and medical conferences thanks to its robust biotechnology companies, medical research institutes and major teaching hospitals, providing the ideal environment to share new findings, report clinical advances, explore career opportunities and establish collaborations for new research projects," Professor Villadangos said.

MCEC Chief Executive, Peter King, said the venue team is excited to host the world's best minds at Australia's leading convention and exhibition centre.

"MCEC is a valuable hub for learning and engagement, providing an award-winning space to deliver major events for Melbourne such as ICI 2016," Mr King said.

"We have a number of leading immunology experts within our Club Melbourne Ambassador Program including Sir Gus Nossal, Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty and Professor Suzanne Cory - all of whom have showed their support for the Congress to be hosted at MCEC.

"We look forward to connecting delegates with world-class facilities and fresh, local food to create a memorable experience that will last well after the event."